Jim (left) & buddy Cas (right) with Jim's first guitar creation from 1977

In know I’ve said it before, but it’s true – you just never know what’s going to walk in the door here at Mass St. Music and yesterday was a great example. Cas Loth, former Lawrencian now living in Nashville, came by to say hi to his old buddy Jim Baggett (our esteemed boss) and he happened to bring along a guitar. This guitar was the first one Jim Baggett ever made, back in 1977.  It still sounds really great, has some beautiful finish crazing and a very simple label inside with Jim’s signature. This is one of only 5 that Jim constructed.  Thanks Cas for stopping by with the show and tell!

Cas shows off his "Baggett dread" from '77

Signed label complete with water stains from the sweat of Jim's brow. Kidding.

Check out the great article on this classic 1932 Martin D-28 written by our esteemed founder and co-owner Jim Baggett for  the latest issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine…nice!

We had a great time at the store last Saturday when co-owner Jim Baggett hosted our first ‘Appraisal Day’. It was a lot of fun, very informative and folks brought in some great instruments for Jim to check out. Thanks to our own Brian S. for the photos:

Very cool vintage Gibson Mando

Unique Gibson Style O in a sunburst finish!

Late '60s Telecaster...very, very cool!

Bring your musical instruments – or just yourself – for a fun (and free) day of informal verbal appraisals/evaluations and informative historical info on instruments this Saturday, November 7, from 10am to 2pm.  Our co-owner, Jim Baggett, a regular contributor to the great PBS series, Antiques Roadshow, will be giving free verbal instrument appraisals. Whether you’ve got an instrument or not, it will be an entertaining and instructional time as Jim talks about what makes an instrument ‘vintage’ rather than just ‘old’. He’ll have a few unique instruments on hand as well to show.

We won’t be offering written appraisals on this day, but arrangements can be made for another time. (Note: Due to Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no ‘last Sat.’ Elbow Room workshop in Nov. – this is it!)

Join us for October’s Free Elbow Room Workshop on Saturday, October 31 at 9 am for Mandolin Basics for Beginners and Those That Think They Aren’t led by the great Scott Tichenor, the man behind the wonderful www.mandolincafe.com website.  Stay on the right track by avoiding some common traps that often snag beginning mandolin players and hinder your playing, but also trip up more seasoned musicians. Includes a question and answer session too.  Totally free.

Also, coming up on Saturday, November 7th from 10am  – 2pm, it’s Appraisal Day with owner Jim Baggett. Trash or treasure? Bring your musical instruments – or just yourself – for a fun day of informal verbal appraisals/evaluations and informative historical info on instruments. Jim is a regular contributor to PBS’s Antiques Roadshow, and co-owner of Mass St. Music. We will NOT be offering written appraisals on this day, but arrangements can be made for another time. (Note: Due to Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no ‘last Sat.’ Elbow Room workshop in Nov. – this is it!) This a free event.